CURRUCA HEINEKEN, nobis. 

 Dr. Heinekeris Blackcap. 



PLATE XCIV. 



C. Mas. corpore olivaeeo, capite, nucha, gula pectoreque nigris. Long. b\ poll. 

 Fcem. ? Corpore olivaeeo, subtus pallidiore, gula genisque griseis, vertice casta- 

 neo. Long. 5§ poll. 



Curruca Heineken, Sir W. Jardine, in Edin. Journ. of Nat. & Geog. Science, No. iv. p. 243. 



The discovery of this species in the island of Madeira, is we believe due 

 to Dr Heineken, now a resident there, and was communicated to us by 

 W. T. Carruthers of Dormont, at whose request it has been named as 

 above. The common species of this country, C. Atricapilla, is also found 

 in the same island, and is even more abundant than the present, frequent- 

 ing the same places, and very frequently in company, with the former. 

 The manners and all the habits are similar, so much so, that they are con- 

 sidered by the natives as identical, — an idea which a single inspection at 

 the representation we have endeavoured to give will confute. 



Length of the male is about five inches and a half. The head, back of 

 the neck, cheeks, throat and breast, are deep glossy black, shaded into a 

 uniform oil-green, which covers the other parts of the bird ; the under 

 parts are of a paler tinge. 



The only female * brought home by Mr Carruthers very closely re- 

 sembles that of the common Blackcap, except in a slight difference of 

 size, and in the whole plumage being of a yellower tinge, and more olive 

 coloured on the upper parts. 



Since writing the above, we have met with a notice of this species by Dr 

 Heineken in the 17th Number of the Zoological Journal, which we think 

 worth transcribing. By this it will be seen that the Doctor is still of opinion 



* The characters of this as the real female, are given with some doubt, both species being 

 in the same tree when the one in question was shot. 



